Methods and Ways of First Aid
Have a discussion based on the following questions.
➣Have you seen minor accidents such as getting an object stuck in the eye, bleeding from the nose, or injury by falling down in the school?
➣When these accidents occur in the school, what methods and ways of first aid are applied?
We may have seen or faced problems such as foreign bodies in in nose, ear, or throat, burns, heat stroke, and altitude sickness. Such accidents can occur during traveling, playing, and working in various places. We need to be conscious of these accidents while working or playing at home, school, and other places. The methods that are applied to save the life from accidents are known as safety measures. Sometimes we have to face different accidents even though we are aware of them. First, we should give the injured persons first aid on the spot before being taken to the hospital. We will learn about the methods and ways of first aid here.
First aid is immediate care given to an injured or ill person by utilizing local means and resources until full medical treatment is available. First aid care may be enough for minor conditions. For serious problems, it should be continued until medical care becomes available. It prevents the situation from getting worse and saves a person's life. It helps the injured person for quick recovery. In some severe cases, the injured person can die if first aid is not administered immediately. Therefore, first aid is all about giving life another chance.
First aid includes activities from simple dressing to the treatment of minor conditions. Help to get the patient feel comfortable, relieve the pain, take immediate care of fainted patient come un- der first aid.ABC is a popular method of first aid in which A stands for Airway, B for Breathing, and C for Circulation. At first, we should open the airways, check the breathing, and then check the circulation. We should immediately remove blockages and clear the airways. We should loosen the tight clothing. In this way, we try to regulate the breathing and circulation.
A. Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a temporary method that is applied to restore blood circulation and respiration to save the life
of someone who is in cardiac arrest. It has two main stages; chest
compression and rescue breathing which are mentioned here.
1 . Chest Compression
The following steps are administered for chest compression:
➣Lay the person on their back and open their airway. Kneel be- side their chest. Place the palm of one hand on the middle of the chest. Then place your other hand on top of your botton1 hand and grasp your wrist or interlock your fingers.
➣Keep your arms straight and press down on their chest with your fingers or paln1 and release (but ensure that your palm is touching the chest), pushing down 2 inches each time. Let the chest rise fully between compressions.
➣Repeat the cycle of 30 chest compressions until the person starts breathing. It helps to restore blood circulation.
Rescue Breathing
The following steps are administered for chest compression:
➣Remove any blockage (vomit, blood, other objects) from the mouth, throat or nose and clear the airways. Then close the nose and pinch the nose with your thumb and fingers.
➣Then place the other hand on their chin and tilt the head back a little.
➣Take a deep breath. Then place your mouth fully over theirs and blow steadily for about one second, watching for the chest to rise and open their nostrils. Ensure that the chest is going up and down.
➣Remove your mouth from theirs and take a deep breath. Again, repeat the activity a, b, and c. Continue to give 30 chest compressions, followed by 2 breaths. Repeat it five times. It is useful to restore breathing.
Activity
Form different groups and sit in the classroom or on the ground. Demonstrate the Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation method with the help of the teacher.
4.6 First Aid during Accident and Injury
We have to do different activities during disasters at home, school, and other places. We may have accidents, we may be injured or face other health problems even if we are cautious. In such a situation, we have to provide first aid and admit the injured person to the nearest health institution as soon as possible. Here are some accidents and health problems.
A. Foreign Body in Eye
An object or something is stuck inside the eye is known as a foreign body in the eye such as a small piece of dust, a wood chip, a metal
shaving, an insect, etc. If there is a foreign body in the eye, we feel
sharp pain, burning, and irritation in the eye. The eyes become watery and red. It can cause blindness if it is not treated promptly. We
should not rub our eyes with our fingers in this situation. First of
all, we should wash our hands with soap and water, and then we
should touch our eyes. We should flush the eyes with clean water.
We should help the person to seat comfortably. If there is any major
injury in the eye, we should cover it with a clean soft cloth or pad.
B. Foreign Bodies in Nose and Ear
Sometimes, an object or something can be stuck in the nose and ear. It can cause pain and infection inside the nose and ear. We keep the person in a well-lighted area and try to remove the foreign body. We never try to remove the foreign body forcefully. If it is not possible to re-move it easily, we should take a person to the nearest health institution.
C. Foreign Body in Throat
Sometimes, an object or something can get stuck inside the throat during swallowing meals. The children can take an object or something while they are playing. It causes choking, hiccups, and a person feels difficulty in speaking. If an object gets stuck in the airway, it needs immediate attention. We try to remove it to save the life. We help the person to throw out an object by coughing. If a person is facing a problem in speaking due to choking, wrap your arms around the waist and tip the person slightly forward. We should also wrap with one arm and hit on the back just above the waist with one arm. If the foreign body is removed through this attempt, give abdominal thrust just above the navel. If the person becomes unconscious, lower the person onto the floor. If it is not possible to re-move it easily, we should take a person to the nearest health institution.
D. Tooth Fracture
Sometimes, teeth can get cracked due to different causes such as biting hard food items, playing sports, road and other accidents. We
should help a person to sit comfortably in a suitable place. If teeth
get fractured by falling down, we should clear the mouth through
gurgling. In the case of a total teeth fracture, we should wrap the
bleeding area with cotton or cloth. We should take a person to the
nearest health institution for additional treatment.
E. Heat Stroke
As temperature increases, a heat wave starts to blow in the Terai region. The temperature rises over 40 °C. Dry and heat wave sweeps from May to August. As a result, heat-related illness is caused which is called heat stroke. Heat stroke patients feel thirsty, have headaches, and are restless. They have flushed and pale faces. They suffer from vomiting and fainting problem. The body temperature can reach 104 OF. We should keep them in a cool and fresh place and a well-ventilated environment. We should apply ice packs or wet cotton or cloth on the forehead, arms, and feet. We should encourage them to drink more liquids such as water, fruit juice, and soup. We should keep them indoors during the daytime.
F. Altitude Sickness
The respiratory problem that is caused by low oxygen levels in the air at high altitudes is called altitude sickness. Mountain climbers are at high risk. Headache, tiredness, dizziness, vomiting, loss of appetite, difficulty in walking, and shortness of breath are symptoms of altitude sickness. The skin and nails become blue due to a lack of oxygen. We should descend immediately from the place. We should provide them with more liquids. In severe conditions, we should see a doctor for treatment. We should pack all necessary first aid items before going to high altitude.
G. Snow Bite
Snow bite is an injury caused by exposure to cold weather conditions. The skin and underlying tissues get frozen due to cold temperatures. Mountain climbers are at high risk. It is most common on the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin. The affected parts look pale. These organs become numb. Fluid-filled blisters may appear. We should immediately take the affected person to the safe and warm place. We should keep the affected fingers or feet in water from 20- 30 minutes. We should provide them more liquids. We should give them warm blanket or quilt to keep their body warm. Depending on the severity of the condition, we should take them to the nearest health institution for treatment.